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Jools and Lady Glenconner choose their festive favourites

Jools hosts a Christmas Special with his guest Anne Glennconner.

In a special Christmas edition of Earlier, Jools shares a festive selection of musical treats by some of his favourites including JS Bach, Bessie Smith and Cecil Gant. His guest is the author and former lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret, Anne Glenconner, who shares seasonal stories from her extraordinary life; childhood Christmases at her family home, Holkham Hall in Norfolk; travelling the world with Princess Margaret; and setting out on a new career path, as a writer, at the age of 87. She discusses her sixth and latest book 'Manners and Mischief – An A-Z of a Life Well Lived' and picks some of her favourite festive music, including a mash-up of carols for string quartet by Rebecca Clarke, Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, Fanny Mendelssohn’s ode to December and her most-loved carol of all time.

7 days left to listen

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cantate, BWV 63 Christen, ätzet diesen Tag: VII. Hochster schau in gnaden an

    Lyricist: Anon.. Ensemble: La Chapelle Harmonique. Conductor: Valentin Tournet.
    • Château de Versailles Spectacles.
  • Peter Warlock

    Bethlehem Down

    Conductor: Gavin Sutherland. Orchestra: Royal Ballet Sinfonia.
    • Naxos.
  • Bessie Smith

    At the Christmas Ball

    • Columbia.
  • Alexander Scriabin

    Piano Concerto in F sharp minor Op.20 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Kirill Gerstein. Orchestra: Oslo Philharmonic. Conductor: Vasily Petrenko.
    • Lawo.
  • Cecil Gant

    Hello Santa Claus

    • Decca.
  • Rebecca Clarke

    Combined Carols

    Ensemble: Julstrom String Quartet.
    • Centaur.
  • Edward Elgar

    Enigma Variations, Op 36 (Variation 9, 'Nimrod')

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Adrian Boult.
    • 100 Best Relaxing Classics.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 15.
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    The Nutcracker - ballet Op.71: Act 2; Dance of the Reed Pipes; Mother Goose

    Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle. Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker.
    • EMI Classics.
  • Fanny Mendelssohn

    December (The Year)

    Performer: Lauma Skride.
    • SONY BMG.
  • Gustav Holst

    In the Bleak Midwinter

    Lyricist: Christina Rossetti. Choir: Worcester Cathedral Choir. Conductor: Donald Hunt.
    • Naxos.

Broadcast

  • Sat 20 Dec 202512:00